Saturday, June 29, 2013

The Things that Happened before Our Where2go Ultimate Challenge.

Joseph created an event called "Penang Cross Ferry Ride" mainly for friends from Kuala Lumpur. Both of us co-hosted this event as both have done it once before during our last event "Cleaner Greener Penang".
On the noon of that Saturday I went over to Penang Chinese Town Hall to collect my goodies. 
I just cannot avoid this favourite shop of mine for an awesome taste of beef soup. This place is just opposite Bomba Fire Station at Chulia Street and it is very near Penang Chinese Town Hall.
I like it with rice. It was my late dad who first introduced this marvellous food to me and he ate it with rice.
After a great lunch I went roaming with my trusted horse and I bumped into Peter Lim from KL. Thanks Peter for this shot. 
Some of the places I visited.
Hour before the ride to Butterworth I went over to Penang Club for a good shower and a cold beer. It was quiet and relaxing with only the sound of sea waves and the breeze.
A few minutes before 5 o'clock I went back to the Town Hall to meet the group going to Butterworth and I met another group from KL they were there for their goodies. It was nice to see familiar faces coming for the same Ultimate Challenge.
One by one appearing and raring to go.
Off we went 16 of us with one more (Irene Cho) waiting at the jetty. So we began our added-on event during the eve of the Where2go Utimate Challenge.
Some of the pictures of our Penang heritage trail.
Hello my name is Larry de Yellow Man, I am the one who took this group around the Penang Heritage Trail. Call me next time if you want to visit this place. Check the Yellow Pages for my number. Thank You.
The members of this evening ride. Photo courtesy of Robert Cheong.
The jetty that we will be boarding after our quick visit at the Penang Port.
 A group photo was taken here.

The front group waiting at the motor lane for the fun ride.
A view from the back of the group ...be patient ok .... the ferry is coming any moment....
This must be a good and memorable experience for most of us first time riding a bicycle into a ferry.
Images of our ferry ride to Butterworth.
A short cut out from the jetty to Butterworth Bus Terminal which is just next to it.
Nash on a high note 
A good place to stop for wash room at the Bus terminal before we continue our ride on the mainland.
At back of the R&R Butterworth Outer Ring Road. 
This place looks like a popular picnic area especially during the weekends.
I noticed when people are hungry things don't seems to be moving on smoothly....their moods are also declining....so, the solution was to quickly look for food before anyone of them turn green....hahaha.
A brief visit to the much talk about temple in Raja Uda known as Nine Emperor Temple.
Finally we got to the food court we wanted to visit after a torturing time cycling along Raja Uda. Can smell foods but cannot eat yet.
So it's makan time at RU Food Court. I can say there are plentiful of food to eat but I believe the quality of Penang is still better on the island.
Time to cycle back to Penang Island via Jalan Raja Uda. It is a busy road and certain stretches are dimly lit.
The ferry ride back to Penang and everyone had to sleep early for the ultimate event.....
Actually there was a recce carried out to specially check the condition of Raja Uda's route back to the island. Thanks to Seang Nee for the assistance.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

My Share of where2go Cycling Event in Penang 2013

This is the route round the island of a distance of 85km starting & finishing at Esplanade.
7:13am - A few of us found this place for breakfast and I had a Kuay Teow Th'ng noodle & a kopi "O" as the fuel for the ride.

 A total 3,700 participants excluding ghost riders...

The trio from Kuala Lumpur - "I had a dream last night & I am going for it please pardon me..."
8:00 - The Penang Round Island Amateur Challenge begins
8:25 - Tun Lim Chong Eu Expressway. I was going as fast as I could at a flat terrain probably plus minus 28km/hr.
8:43 - a turning near Batu Maung 
9:14 - the start of the first climb. Fortunately it was still in the morning as we climb this elevated road structure looking steep, curvy and unfriendly.
At this climb many started to push.
9:18 - at a speed of 7 to 8km/hr still on the uphill ride.
9:20 - about at the tip of the climb and looking forward for the roll.
Thank you Cycling Malaysia for this lovely picture.
9:30 - a long stretch of kampong setting (maybe Kg. Paya Simpang Empat Genting) very scenic and flat.
10:03 - a little further after Balik Pulau town came the second messy drink station, I did bother to stop here.
10:10 the second ascend of this event with narrow road but good green canopy.
 There were a few more falls and pushing of bicycles.

10:21 - Reached this bridge at Titi Kerawang Waterfall
10:30 - I was very thirsty and was tempted to eat these spiky fruits but I told told myself only 100 Plus and nothing more, durian can come after the race. Stalls @ Titi Kerawang.
10:37 - I saw the first load of cyclists up in the Local Council lorry. Many are still waiting for the free ride.
10:37 - a friend called me from behind and I was glad to see Edwin Yap.
We followed the lorry sapu for a while but overtook it a moment later.
I had a good chat with Edwin as I was in a total silence while I was pedaling, no one to talk to and it was not my usual riding pattern.
10:50 - @ Teluk Bahang Dam, Edwin bade bye bye to me as he has to change gear for full speed ahead. Thanks to him as I knew I am going to make it at that distance and time.
11:21 - Teluk Bahang town, last year I had a long stop here...hehehe the food, the drink & the chatting.
11:35 - Tanjung Tokong, it was already near the esplanade and yet I had to stop for this bar. The last 8km was torturous I was weak & hungry....
11:55 - I felt very good as I approach the finishing line.
11:55 - I touched the finishing line with a time of 3 hr 55mins and was very happy with this achievement. Last year my round island ride (CFAL) took me 4 hr 50mins because I had a relax cruise and I told myself no more cruising this year but pedal and pedal as much as I can.....
12:05 - met this group of petty girls while I was on the way to collect my medal.
The Team Ori as usual was fast and I met them at the finishing line.
12:32 - One more Ori coming in.... poor Ping Teo had a muscle cramp.
 I shall return for more round island and I will do it like a yearly "pilgrimage".  

The medal for a good memory.
Photo courtesy of Folding Bike Malaysia & that's my brother Yong Lim with his team from Sg. Petani.